As two people become more familiar with each other through dating, they generally begin to relax together. They trade information on a regular basis about their pasts, their hopes for the future, and they may even talk about their families and friends. All of this is a normal progression toward a long term relationship. Couples reaching the time when a decision on the longevity of their relationship becomes a topic of conversation often struggle. It is time to commit or quit for many of them, but they may not know how to decide.

Few people have an actual written list of attributes for their future spouse, but most have a general idea of what they seek in a partner and a relationship. The struggle is often due to the fact that the general idea and the person they are with do not quite match. Making the choice to stay or go can be difficult, but making the right choice could lead to a happier life.